SOUTH FORK — The Forest Hills Regional Alliance, the first of its kind in the region, is whole again after a decision by Summerhill Township officials to rejoin after leaving earlier this year.
Meanwhile, two other regional organizations in Cambria County are prospering and beginning to make a difference in the lives of area residents.
They all reflect a statewide trend toward joint efforts allowing municipalities to remain independent yet benefit from power in numbers.
“Nobody is asking municipalities to give up individuality or sacrifice needs,” said state official Kenneth Kolthen, deputy secretary for Community Affairs and Development. “What we’re finding is many needs are shared.”
The state is backing communities’ push toward regionalization with money.
Greg Morgan of the state Department of Community and Economic Development said that last year the agency doled out nearly $3 million to cover the costs of multi-municipal planning and shared services efforts, including equipment purchases.
Both programs are benefiting the Central Cambria Coalition, made up of Ebensburg and Cambria and Jackson townships.
“It’s been a tremendous benefit to us,” said Dan Penatzer, Ebensburg borough manager.
Joint equipment purchases and sharing has been the big initial benefit for the municipalities making up the Central Cambria School District.
But the coalition is now involved in a joint comprehensive plan, something Penatzer said will save money and guarantee coordination between the municipalities.
The Forest Hills group, which is in the funding stage of municipal planning, is focusing on bringing grants to the area. It also is weighing the possible sharing of health-care services and some equipment.
Alliance officials have applauded the return of Summerhill Township.
“This means we have achieved solidarity,” Alliance executive director David Knepper said. “It’s like any family. There are going to be disagreements, but the family is back together.”
Summerhill Township pulled out earlier this year after a proposed regional police department, which the supervisors strongly supported, fell by the wayside and other issues surfaced.
“We figured we’d swallow our pride and go back. Hopefully we might get something out of it,” said Hap Evancic, a longtime Summerhill Township supervisor.
The idea of a regional police force is not dead for the Forest Hills group, but it may end up being a venture between a couple of the seven municipalities in the Forest Hills School District and the Alliance.
A comprehensive plan is the next big item on the Alliance’s agenda, a plan which is much more feasible with Summerhill Township back in the fold.
“It’s more than a snapshot to the future, it’s a vision. It’s where we want to be in five or 10 years and a plan how to get there,” Knepper said of process, which will cost more than $100,000 – money he hopes to get from a number of state sources.
The latest communities to join the regional governing approach are the half dozen municipalities in central Mainline around the township and borough of Cresson.
Formation of the Cresson Area Shared Services Coalition was promoted by the Cresson Area Chamber of Commerce.
Rich Wray, chamber vice president and the civil engineer for many of the municipalities in the central Mainline area, serves as meeting moderator.
Since the spring, the group has held three meetings at Mount Aloysius College, which has provided a neutral site for the discussions.
The Cresson group is developing a shared equipment program, and the municipalities are conducting surveys to determine health-insurance needs.
Penn Cambria School District officials came up with the health-care idea after seeing positive results after purchasing insurance through Admiral Peary Vo-Tech.
The one surprise element to many involved in regionalization was expressed by Cambria Township Supervisor Buzzy Shook. He said efforts in the central part of the county are bringing officials together in a way few may have believed possible.
“We’re doing the things you would do in consolidation; we’re just taking a difference approach.”
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